Local air pollution officials are issuing a health cautionary statement effective through Wednesday night, because of blowing dust resulting from gusty winds. The health caution is in effect for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and the valley portion of Kern counties.

In a little over a month's time, Americans all around the country will sink their toes in summer grass and look up into a night sky illuminated by fireworks. Turlockers will be doing no different at this year's free community fireworks show, scheduled to be held on July 4 at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

The Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center is inviting the public to celebrate the birth of hundreds of wild animals with its annual Baby Animal Shower fundraiser on Saturday. The center cares for orphaned animals until they are old enough to be released back into the wild. The baby animal shower is one of the center's biggest fundraisers, and it is a way for the center to collect much-needed supplies.

Bad news just keeps on coming for local growers, as the Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors considers implementing an even lower than the historically-low 20 inch water allotment in 2014, once the postponed irrigation season finally starts.